Jim
Mageau is, after all, one of Charlestown’s most well-known political figures
for his tumultuous one term as Town Council boss in 2006-8 which reshaped town
politics ever since. He’s been mentioned in almost 200 Progressive Charlestown
articles (CLICK HERE).

Before
he turned into a Trumpnik, Mageau called himself a Democrat, although his brand
of Democrat was more commonly found in Charleston, South Carolina rather Charlestown, Rhode Island. He
was known for his crude remarks, boorish behavior and casual relationship with
the truth. Not as bad as his new political hero, but close enough to understand
why Mageau decided to give his full-throated support for Trump.

We’re
now at the point in the campaign where enough hard, documentary evidence has come
out to deal with all the broad points of both campaigns. I’m sure more will
come out between now and November 8, but we have enough to see whether or not
Mageau’s statements, published over two months ago, stand up to reality.

SPOILER
ALERT: they don’t.

Mageau’s letter
appears below. His words are in italics. My responses are in bold and note that
I have included links to back up each of my statements.

His letter starts with
this:

It is curious that the electorate will support a
political candidate or elected official who is dishonest and involved in
corruption. Hillary Clinton's candidacy is an example of that.

It is also curious that The Providence Journal has
gone to great lengths to expose corruption and unethical behavior by state and
local politicians but has done very little to expose Hillary Clinton's abysmal
behavior.

Jim
– if you, or Trump, or anyone else actually had any proof of Hillary’s
so-called “abysmal behavior,” you can bet it would have come out by now.
Wikileaks have been publishing thousands of Clinton e-mails without any “smoking
guns.”

It's obviously wrong for people to criticize
Donald Trump for his verbal blunders and exaggerations while at the same time
ignoring Hillary Clinton's blatant lies and corruption. What is the matter with
Clinton's supporters? Has the moral decay in our society reached such a low
point that honesty and integrity no longer matter?

Again,
what the hell are you talking about, Jim? “Blatant lies and corruption?” Trump’s
words of hate, racism, sexism, jingoism, etc. are enough to disqualify him. But
his ACTIONS as a business cheat, tax cheat, fraud, and sexual predator are, to
use Trump’s words, the kind that should put him “in jail.”

It may be true that if Donald Trump wins the
election we will have a plain-talking president who sticks his foot in his
mouth on occasion and says things that he may regret later. However, it may be
that his outspoken candor and leadership are just what our country needs.

I
know lots of “plain-talking” people who are not racist, sexist fools who rack
up one of the worst Politifact scores for truthfulness and accuracy. Over
70% of Trump’s statements were rated as mostly false, false or “Pants on Fire.”

His
ignorant and provocative remarks, especially about national defense, NATO and nuclear weapons have horrified and caused serious worry
for American friends and allies around the world. His remarks about Mexico, Syria, immigrants and refugees are a disgrace to the values and history of America.

But one of the many, many problems with Trump is that he has shown throughout the campaign that he has NO FIXED CONVICTIONS. He has flipped and flopped on just about every policy issue. The only consistent things he has said were his insults to women, veterans, immigrants, the disabled, refugees, etc.

We should not lose sight of the fact that he is a
successful businessman and CEO of a multi-million dollar empire with business
interests all over the world. He is married to a very intelligent woman who can
speak five languages and would bring grace and dignity to the White House as
first lady.

Let’s lay to rest this myth of Trump as a successful businessman. He is not.
How do you go bankrupt in the casino business? How did he run up the
billion-dollar loss that let him skip paying federal income taxes for
years?

Conversely, the only business experience Hillary
Clinton has is in manufacturing lies and selling out the American people. Think
about it. If she wins the election we will have a president who is a
pathological liar, whose corruption knows no bounds. She has lied to the
American people time and time again. She also used her office as secretary of
state as a bargaining chip to raise millions of dollars for her family through
the Clinton Foundation.

So,
other than simply repeat – without evidence – Trump's claim that Hillary Clinton is
a corrupt liar, Mageau brings up the Clinton Foundation.

Unlike
the Trump Foundation, the Clinton Foundation has actually done a lot of good around the
world, earning an A rating from Charity Watch.

If she wins, all of her supporters should be
excited to know that that her husband Bill will become “first gentleman.” How
can it get any better than that? Imagine, having a president who is a
pathological liar and a “first gentleman” who is an adulterer, a sexual
predator and as corrupt as his wife Hillary.

Bill
Clinton has betrayed Hillary’s trust with his infidelities. No one disputes
that, including both Bill and Hillary. But unlike serial philanderer, sexual
predator, three-time married Donald Trump, they have stayed together.